CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1921, Page 8

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

• MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday: Present: Crs. R. H. Piggott (chairman), T. McKenzie, 11. Foreman, ‘ C. H. Barnitt, S. Sutton, F. C. Jones, and ' H. R. Harrison. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr. Dowsett, reported as follows: Waihi Riding: I see no valid reason why the Nikorima road metalling contract should not be actively pushed ahead. It ia due to the settlers that the work should proceed without further delay. The Epiha road from the Main road to the beach has been re-de-fined; the north-eastern fence is correct as far as it goes, but the south-eastern ■ ■fence is not so. I am ng with the natives in connection' the acquisition of land gi-. to the beach at Onaero, and j robably a small additional area for a metal depot. Blinding metal and repairs have been proceeding on the Main road. Tikorangi Riding: Any obstacles to the prosecution of the Otaraoa road formation being now overcome this work should be carried to an early completion. The metal contractor having accumulated the quantity of stone specified in Mr. Alexander’s property, proposes shifting to Mr. Knuckey’s pit to complete the remainder. Nothing definite has resulted so far in connection with the Waipapa road metalling. The foreman has been attending to the usual rftaintenanee requirements. Gate posts and hinges have been ordered for access to the road, through Mr. Bevan’s, and these will shortly be fixed in position. Ngatimaru Riding: In the Purangi district the usual repairs have received attention. It is proposed later to widen portions of the Pukemahoe track with the assistance of the ..ettiers interested. The foreman at Ma tan has been engaged in repairing the North Matau road, in the vicinity of the low level bridge and consequently the completion of approaches to the South Matau bridge have been in abeyance, but will receive early attention: also the unexpended balance of the Government grant for the removal of points on the Kiore Saddle will bo attended to before March, so that a full claim can |be made. The .settlers at Matau have been too busy to open up. the proposed metal quarry, and I am therefore forced to postpone my report and estimate until this preliminary work has been carried out. »• Urenui Riding: The crushing was completed on December 22, the total output being 893 cubic yards. As referred to elsewhere, I propose making a depot at Onaero (when negotiations for access are completed), thereby saving payment of royalties. I see no serious obstacle to metalling the Main road from Mimi southwards from this depot. Contractors are willing to handle metal: at Onaero, but fight very shy of working the Urenui beach. The small bridge i on 1 lie Avenue road has been repaired. During the month the ’bridge party transferred to Marsh’s bridge, Okoke road. This structure is in a precarious condition, owing to the southern pier slowly sinking, and travelling towards the river, the camber being transferred from a concave to convex figure, proving highly dangerous to traffic. It has ■been under-strutted temporarily, but financial arrangements should bo made forthwith for reconstruction. Slips of various magnitudes came down on the Piko and Okoke roads, and have received attention at the hands of the settlers and foreman. Further gravel has been quarried from the native reserve and used in patching and repairs. Various -weak places on the Pukearuhe road have L been repaired and slips removed. The ' boundaries of the Nopera road have been 1 re-d?fined The fence at fault is the southern side from the second angle to its junction with the old Clifton road.

Uruti Riding: The bridge party completed repairs to Murray’s bridge, the cost being £6l 13s 3d. Patching and blinding metal, clearing slips, protecting weak places, and general maintenance have been a tended to. The unmetalled •portions of the Mokau road, south of Mt. Messenger, are ufffng formed up and metalled by the Public Works Department. Mokau Riding: The haulage of timber from the pit to the Mangaonga bridge ..site is shortly expected, when the erection will be proceeded with, together with repairs to the Derwent bridge. Various matters are requiring attention on the Okau and other roads, and instructions were given regarding same, but the shortak* of local labour prevents any great headway being made.

CORRESPONDENCE. Notification was received from the Waitara Harbor Board that a resolution was passed at a meeting of the board granting the Clifton County Council the right to remove stone for road construction from the beach until further notice. A letter was received from Mr. W. Jones, Okoke road, objecting to the inclusion of his section in the proposed loan for metalling the Okoke road, on the ground that this road did not serve him as on outlet.—The Council decided that it could not entertain Mr. Jones’ objection. An application from Mr. W. C. Cox. contractor, asking that the contract price for metal supplied from Alleman’s pit be increased, as it was impossible to carry on the work at the present price.—The matter was left in the hands of Cr. Foreman and the engineer to arrange. Mr. J. H. Brown, Urenuf, wrote applying for permission to-fence and occupy a portion of the Ngapara Road, Urtnui, and undertaking to keep same clear of gorse if the application was granted.—- Temporary permission wa« granted. GENERAL. A resolution was carried authorising the clerk to take the necessary steps to ra se a loan to metal portion of the Okoke Road, the amount of the loan to be £2QO. Tn regard to an application from • cott Bros, to have a portion of tlm looi road closed, the Council decided to let the matter stand over till the next meeting, and that in the meantime the settlers on the road be notified of the application. A long-standing account, amounting to £3O, incurred by the council by a supply of pit metal supplied by the Waitoitoi Dairy Company was the subject of considerable discussion. It was finally if-solved, on the motion of Cr. Sutton and Cr. Barnitt, that the account be paid.